SAN JOSE, CA - San Jose's losing streak reached a season-high seven games with a 14-6 defeat to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Saturday evening at Municipal Stadium. Rancho Cucamonga broke the game open with an eight-run top of the fifth en route to claiming their fourth straight game over
SAN JOSE, CA - San Jose's losing streak reached a season-high seven games with a 14-6 defeat to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Saturday evening at Municipal Stadium. Rancho Cucamonga broke the game open with an eight-run top of the fifth en route to claiming their fourth straight game over the Giants to open the series. The 14 runs allowed by San Jose (39-48 overall, 5-12 second half) matched a season-high.
Brandon Van Horn (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) and Jacob Heyward (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) each homered for the Giants in defeat.
The Quakes jumped out early scoring four times in the top of the third against San Jose starter DJ Myers to take a 4-0 lead. Three straight singles from Jared Walker, Gavin Lux and Rylan Bannan to start the inning loaded the bases with none out. Following a strikeout of Cody Thomas, Omar Estevez stepped to the plate and grounded a single into left to plate Walker and Lux with the first two runs of the night. Two batters later, Cristian Santana delivered a two-out RBI single to make it 3-0. Then with runners on the corners, Rancho Cucamonga successfully executed a double steal with Estevez swiping home to stretch the lead to 4-0.
The Quakes then sent 14 batters to the plate in an eight-run top of the fifth to take control of the game. Frank Rubio entered out of the bullpen to begin the frame and promptly allowed back-to-back singles to Estevez and Jeren Kendall. Santana was up next and he hammered a double to the fence in deep left center scoring both runners to make it 6-0. After Connor Wong was hit by a pitch, Zach McKinstry singled to load the bases. Walker followed with a ringing double to deep right center that cleared the bases as Santana, Wong and McKinstry all scored to extend the lead to 9-0. Lux then walked before a Bannon RBI single made it 10-0. Thomas then produced an RBI double - the ninth straight Rancho Cucamonga hitter to reach base to start the inning - pushing the lead to 11-0. Franklin Van Gurp was then summoned from the bullpen and he eventually got out of the inning, but not before uncorking a wild pitch with Bannon at third to score the eighth and final run of the frame.
San Jose's first two runs of the contest came in the bottom of the fifth. Sandro Fabian doubled off the left field fence with one out before Gio Brusa singled. Matt Winn then rolled a single through the hole on the right side plating Fabian. After a Van Horn single, Bryce Johnson's groundout scored Brusa to bring the Giants to within 12-2.
Rancho Cucamonga added two more runs in the top of the seventh against Rodolfo Martinez. With two runners on and one out, Walker laced a two-RBI double down the right field line to extend the lead to 14-2.
A pair of late two-run home runs for San Jose would bring the final margin to 14-6. In the bottom of the eighth, Jalen Miller worked a one-out walk before Heyward stepped to the plate with two down and launched a towering home run to left. Then in the ninth, a two-out single from Winn was followed by a Van Horn two-run homer down the left field line.
Dustin May (5-3) earned the win for the Quakes after tossing seven strong innings with two runs (both earned) allowed. May surrendered six hits, walked one and struck out five.
Myers (3-3) yielded four runs (all earned) on seven hits over the first four innings to take the loss. He walked one and struck out six.
Notes
* The seven-game skid is the longest losing streak for San Jose since dropping seven straight June 15-24, 2017.
* The eight runs allowed by the Giants in the top of the fifth matched a season-high in an inning.
* Rancho Cucamonga out-hit San Jose 18-9. The Quakes were 9-for-27 (.333 AVG) with runners in scoring position.
* The home runs from Heyward and Van Horn were both their seventh of the season.
* Myers was making his first start of the season after 13 relief appearances.
* Giants outfielder Johneshwy Fargas pitched a scoreless top of the ninth. Fargas worked around a hit batter and an error. He struck out two. Fargas was the first San Jose position player to appear on the mound this season.
* Brusa's single in the bottom of the fifth was the Giants' first hit with a runner in scoring position since July 2 (snapped an 0-for-21 stretch).
* Pitcher Melvin Adon was placed on the disabled list before the game on Saturday.
On Deck
The Giants will look to avoid a five-game sweep when they conclude their series against Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday evening. First pitch at Municipal Stadium is scheduled for 5:00 PM. Raffi Vizcaino (5-5, 4.68 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while the Quakes are expected to counter with Parker Curry (5-1, 3.61 ERA). For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.
